Quintay to San José de Jáchal, Argentina is about 429 road miles (691 km): roughly 10 h 59 min at the wheel if you don't stop. You cross from Chile into Argentina at about mile 147, at the Cristo Redentor crossing.
Full advisory: Chile, Argentina. Advisory issued: Chile August 19, 2026; Argentina July 10, 2026; checked October 10, 2026.
On the roads, the State Department says:
- Chile: “Secondary and mountain roads may be poorly maintained, poorly lit, and may lack guardrails.”
- Argentina: “Drivers should prepare in advance when taking long road trips and make sure to have adequate insurance coverage.”
| Total distance | 429 mi (691 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 10 h 59 min |
| Main roads, in order | F-800 → RN7 → RN149 → RP12 → RP414 → RP436 → RN40 → RN150 |
| Border crossing | about mile 147, Chile → Argentina (the Cristo Redentor crossing) |
| Regions on the route | Valparaíso, Mendoza, San Juan |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 17.2 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
Crossing from Chile into Argentina
The route crosses at about mile 147, at the Cristo Redentor crossing, from Valparaíso into Mendoza. Plan on two checks on each side: immigration for your passport and customs for the car.
| Entering Argentina (U.S. citizens) | No visa needed for visits of 90 days or less. Passport: must be valid when you enter; leave a blank page for the entry and exit stamps. |
|---|---|
| Driving in Argentina | A valid U.S. license usually works; an International Driving Permit is recommended. |
| Entering Chile (U.S. citizens) | No visa needed for 90 days or less on a tourist passport; you get a Tourist Card valid for up to 90 days. Passport: must be valid for your whole stay. |
| Driving in Chile | A valid U.S. license works for the length of your tourist permit, usually 90 days. |
| The car, entering Argentina | Argentine customs (ARCA) registers the car's temporary entry. Bring the title or registration, liability insurance valid in Argentina and, if you don't own the car, a power of attorney signed before a notary. A rental car needs the rental company's MERCOSUR circulation authorization (ACM), and the company must be registered with Argentine customs. |
| Rental car | Cross only if the rental company authorizes it in writing and gives you the papers for the border; ask before you book. |
Sources: U.S. State Department, Argentina (updated July 16, 2026); U.S. State Department, Chile (updated July 02, 2026); ARCA (Argentine customs). Checked October 10, 2026; rules change, so confirm before you go.
What the drive from Quintay to San José de Jáchal is like
RN149 (94 mi) and RN40 (56 mi) carry about 35% of the 429 miles. The first 147 miles are in Chile; the last 282 are in Argentina. It runs through 3 regions: Valparaíso, Mendoza, San Juan. Of the 9 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
Quintay to San José de Jáchal: the road sequence
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–1 | 1 | Valparaíso |
| F-800 | 1–15 | 14 | Valparaíso |
| connecting roads | 15–16 | 1 | Valparaíso |
| local roads | 16–21 | 5 | Valparaíso |
| connecting roads | 21–22 | 1 | Valparaíso |
| local roads | 22–62 | 40 | Valparaíso |
| connecting roads | 62–63 | 1 | Valparaíso |
| local roads | 63–147 | 84 | Valparaíso |
| RN7 | 147–201 | 54 | Mendoza |
| RN149 | 201–295 | 94 | Mendoza, San Juan |
| RP12 | 295–321 | 26 | San Juan |
| RP414 | 321–352 | 31 | San Juan |
| RP436 | 352–367 | 15 | San Juan |
| RN40 | 367–423 | 56 | San Juan |
| RN150 | 423–429 | 6 | San Juan |
- Mile 147 of this route: Valparaíso → Mendoza (international border)
- Mile 240 of this route: Mendoza → San Juan (region line)
What to see on the way from Quintay to San José de Jáchal
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Museo Histórico de Placilla (mile 19), Museo Arqueológico de Los Andes (mile 104), Puente del Inca (mile 158)
- Nature and outdoors: Lago Peñuelas National Reserve (mile 15), Balneario Las Salinas (mile 25), La Campana National Park (mile 68), El Leoncito National Park (mile 257)
- Museums and history: Museo Histórico de Placilla (mile 19), Museo Arqueológico de Los Andes (mile 104), Puente del Inca (mile 158)
- With kids: Zoológico de Quilpué (mile 30)
Lago Peñuelas National Reserve
Chile's Lago Peñuelas National Reserve surrounds Peñuelas Lake, a freshwater reservoir that supplies drinking water to Valparaíso and Viña del Mar.
Museo Histórico de Placilla
About 14 km from Valparaíso, the Museo Histórico de Placilla opened in August 2009 under the Placilla Cultural Center and is the only museum in the Placilla de Peñuelas area.
Teatro Municipal
Teatro Municipal de Viña del Mar is a heritage building in Viña del Mar, in Chile's Valparaíso Region, facing Plaza Vergara.
Balneario Las Salinas
Balneario Las Salinas is a beach in Viña del Mar, in Chile's Valparaíso Region, lying just north of the neighborhood of the same name.
Zoológico de Quilpué
Maintained by the municipality, the Zoológico de Quilpué was set up on land donated to the city to create a recreation park for the community.
La Campana National Park
In Chile's coastal range northwest of Santiago, La Campana National Park protects the Chilean palm that Charles Darwin studied on his 1834 visit. Trails climb toward Cerro La Campana, and the park also holds petroglyphs and the Salto La Cortadera waterfall.
Museo Arqueológico de Los Andes
Opened in 1969 by Carlos Coros, the Los Andes Archaeological Museum occupies a 19th-century house and holds a collection tied to the Aconcagua culture and the Inca civilization.
Puente del Inca
Puente del Inca is a natural rock arch spanning the Las Cuevas River, a tributary of the Mendoza River. It stands beside the village of the same name in Las Heras Department, Mendoza Province.
El Leoncito National Park
Created in 2002 in San Juan Province, El Leoncito National Park protects Central Andean Puna and Southern Andean steppe habitats along with historical and paleontological sites.
More drives to San José de Jáchal
- Maipú to San José de Jáchal
- Tunuyán to San José de Jáchal
- San Luis to San José de Jáchal
- La Punta to San José de Jáchal
- Villa Carlos Paz to San José de Jáchal
- Córdoba, Argentina to San José de Jáchal
More drives from Quintay
- Quintay to Pisco Elqui
- Quintay to Villa Unión, Argentina
- Quintay to Malargüe, Argentina
- Quintay to San Agustín de Valle Fértil, Argentina
- Quintay to La Punta, Argentina
- Quintay to Barreal, Argentina
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Quintay to San José de Jáchal, Argentina?
About 10 h 59 min of driving without stops, over 429 miles.
What is the driving distance from Quintay to San José de Jáchal, Argentina?
About 429 miles (691 km) on the Wayro route. Other map services may show a few miles more or less, depending on where they start and end in each city.
Where does the Quintay to San José de Jáchal drive cross the border?
At about mile 147, from Chile into Argentina, at the Cristo Redentor crossing.
What do U.S. citizens need to drive from Quintay into Argentina?
No visa needed for visits of 90 days or less. Passport: must be valid when you enter; leave a blank page for the entry and exit stamps. A valid U.S. license usually works; an International Driving Permit is recommended. (U.S. State Department, updated July 16, 2026.)
Is it safe to drive from Quintay to San José de Jáchal, Argentina?
The U.S. State Department rates Chile Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Argentina Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions. Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Quintay to San José de Jáchal use?
In order: F-800, RN7, RN149, RP12, RP414, RP436, RN40 and RN150. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Quintay to San José de Jáchal?
Closest to the road: Museo Histórico de Placilla (archaeological museum, mile 19, 0.7 mi from the route); Museo Arqueológico de Los Andes (archaeological museum, mile 104, 1 mi from the route); Puente del Inca (historic bridge, mile 158, 0.1 mi from the route). All stops are described above.
How we put this guide together
Wayro calculates the route from OpenStreetMap road data; mile numbers are positions along this route, not highway markers, and "from the route" distances are straight-line, so the real detour depends on access roads. Stops are chosen from parks, natural sites, museums, historic sites and attractions close to the route: at least one strong stop for each stretch of the drive, then the best-known places nearest the road, up to nine in all. Places that are closed, private or not open to visitors are removed. Place descriptions are written by the Wayro team from official park, museum, tourism and government websites and other published sources. Safety levels and entry rules were checked against the U.S. Department of State on October 10, 2026. Conditions change, so check the linked sources before you travel.
Route data © OpenStreetMap contributors.